Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 overview

A workhorse of a lens, the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM is an L-series telephoto zoom characterized by its bright f/2.8 constant maximum aperture and optical image stabilization. The fast maximum aperture affords greater control over depth of field and benefits working in low-light conditions while the Image Stabilizer compensates for four stops of camera shake for sharper handheld shooting. As an L-series lens, this 70-200mm also features a sophisticated optical design that uses five ultra-low dispersion elements and one fluorite element to reduce color fringing and chromatic aberrations for improved clarity. Also, a Super Spectra coating has been applied to help reduce lens flare and ghosting for greater contrast and color neutrality.

Complementing its optical assets, this 70-200mm f/2.8 also sports a ring-type USM and internal focusing mechanism for quick, quiet, and accurate autofocus performance, as well as full-time manual focus override. Additionally, this lens is weather-sealed for use in trying environmental conditions and it has a removable rotating tripod collar to benefit working atop a tripod or monopod.

Versatile telephoto zoom is designed for full-frame Canon EF-mount DSLRs, however can also be used with APS-C models where it provides a 112-320mm equivalent focal length range.

Bright constant f/2.8 maximum aperture affords consistent performance throughout the zoom range and offers notable control over depth of field for working with selective focus techniques.

One fluorite element and five ultra-low dispersion glass elements noticeably reduce color fringing and chromatic aberrations for high clarity and color fidelity.

Super Spectra coating has been applied to individual elements to minimize ghosting and flare for greater contrast and color neutrality when working in strong lighting conditions.

An Optical Image Stabilizer helps to minimize the appearance of camera shake by up to four shutter speed stops to better enable working in low-light conditions and with slower shutter speeds. In addition to the single-shot standard IS mode, a second mode is also available that it optimized for panning.

A ring-type Ultrasonic Motor (USM), along with an internal focusing system, is employed to deliver fast, precise, and quiet autofocus performance as well as full-time manual focus override.

Focus Limiter switch lets you constrain the focusing to two different ranges to suit different applications: 3.9'-infinity or 8.2'-infinity.

Rounded eight-blade diaphragm contributes to a pleasing out of focus quality that benefits the use of shallow depth of field and selective focus techniques.

As a member of the esteemed L-series, this lens is sealed against dust and moisture for working in inclement environmental conditions.

Removable rotating tripod collar is included and benefits working with the lens atop a tripod or monopod.

Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 reviews

EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM Lens is rated
4.9 out of
5 by
2962.

Rated 5 out of
5 by
PCPHOTO from
VERY SHARP PROBLEM SOLVERHaving owned 4 different Canon 70-200L zoom lenses, this one is the best yet! I was very dissapointed with the series I f/2.8 IS lens wide open, and I ended up purchasing 3 "L" primes in its range to obtain sharp photographs in dim light. That all changed using this new version. The generation II f/2.8L lens offers even better performance than the f/4L IS version, (which is excellent, but a bit too slow for available light photography) and is much more effective than my non IS "L" primes in this range due to its awesome image stabilizer unit. What a problem solver! Wedding/portrait photography for me will never be the same. Highly recommmend!

Date published: 2010-06-18

Rated 5 out of
5 by
Sifu from
More impressed every dayI have had this lens for around 4 months now and I am more and more impressed with it all the time. Image quality is supurb. Auto focus is great, I can shoot through trees to a subject that is moving and nail it consistantly. I took some shots of cars coming straight at me doing around 50 and it consistantly nailed the focus using AI Servo. It produces and pleasing bokeh. I use it for weddings, protraits, landscape and street photography and it consistantly produces great results under varied conditions. A number of people say it is too heavy, yeah there is some weight to it but it feels just right to me, I like the weight, it just feels good.

Date published: 2012-03-15

Rated 5 out of
5 by
khanh from
Excellent lens!I waffled for a while before deciding to buy this lens. I did a lot of research, read online reviews, weighed the pros and cons, and tried to see if the 24-105L would be "good enough". In the end, lust for the 70-200mm won out, and after using the lens, I have no regrets at all.
This lens comfortably outresolves the 24-105L f4 lens that came with the 5D Mark III. The sharpness is amazing, even at f2.8. It is brighter and faster than the 24-105L, obviously. The colors are more accurate and purely "Canon". The "bokeh" and background blur are also much better, so much that portraits make the subjects "pop out".
Cons? Size, weight, and cost.

Date published: 2012-10-04

Rated 5 out of
5 by
Shepherdboy from
Buy it and cry once, pass on it and cry at every photoI read a lot, saved a lot and finally decided based on the headline adage. What I have noticed using this lens in place of the 18-135 STM I got with my T4i is the color and photo quality that I now see which I did not get before. Same settings pretty much (school events, scenics, news events) but there is so much more to the photos. It is difficult to put it into words, but using the same camera in the same settings the photos are so much more. The focus (for sports) is quick and accurate. Inside the f2.8 gets me nice photos (RAW) that I can do some post fixing when needed. Other than the pain of initial purchase, I am so very pleased with this lens.

Date published: 2015-04-24

Rated 4 out of
5 by
Zhao from
Great lensJust get the lens, some thoughts:
1. IS works, I can get very sharp image at 1/10s F2.8, 200mm with this lens. That is the main reason I upgrade from my NON-IS.
2. The image feel crispy.
3. Feel much heavier than my non-IS.
4. The zoom ring is too tight for my taste
5 Bokeh seems not as smooth as non-IS
6. It seems the infinity of the lens is set to be at hyperfocal distance, so if I try to AF on very far object, the sharpest point will always be somewhere in front of it. The reported AF point is NOT the sharpest point. This is a rare use of the lens and I probably can fix it by manual focus, but somehow I feel for a lens of this caliber and price it should be able to do better.

Date published: 2010-06-25

Rated 5 out of
5 by
Salmonator from
Amazing truly amazingI was saving for the old 70-200 2.8L lens and when the series Ii came out I ended up purchasing it. if you are on the fence whether or not you should spend all that money just rent one for a weekend shoot to try it out. Do some bright light and some low light shooting. But I warn you that you will end up buying it because it is truly amazing. When viewing the image you just captured it often looks better (crisper, brighter, sharper) that what you were viewing in the viewfinder. This lens is one you need for indoor or outdoor close-ups when you cannot get close to your subject. Truly amazing...

Date published: 2011-12-27

Rated 5 out of
5 by
doc suzi from
Perfection!!!I owned the Series I for several years and it produced very good images. Then came the Series II. Portraits, corporate events, scenery, animals, low light; this lens does it all. I was skeptical about the 4 F-stop IS, but became a believer the first time I was out in the Prince William Sound on a rocking boat. The images are razor sharp, and the bokeh is soft and lovely. The autofocus is silent and very fast. with a battery grip on my EOS 7D, the weight really isn't a problem. Why is it so heavy? The thing is built like a truck. I swallowed hard at the price, and the first photos proved the lens is worth it.

Date published: 2010-06-19

Rated 5 out of
5 by
Maine Brain Media from
Lens for the ultimate comboI shoot photos and video of Weddings, Marathons, Boudoir, Scenes, Chroma Key and General Shooting. It is Oh So Sharp and the Depth of field control is very easy to achieve. It is not too heavy, Easy to handle and fits just right in my hand. I can work quickly with this lens throughout the entire focal range No Complaints. If you are a Pro or an Enthusiast this is the best investment in glass you could possibly start with. P.S. B& H is very simple to buy from and I am glad that the lens was purchased here. We were facing alot of bad choices with other vendors. Just buyt it here and no regrets. Simple. I like everything about this lens.